Arriving at the church, you can see that many of the parishioners are baptized completely incorrectly. Someone swings his arms in different directions, someone collects all his fingers into a pinch, and someone does not reach his stomach at all. What does this small sacred rite mean for an Orthodox person, how to perform it correctly.

What does the sign of the cross mean

In Christianity, this prayer gesture personifies the cross of the Lord. Three fingers put together mean faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, that is, the consubstantial Trinity. And the fingers at the palm express the two natures of the Son of God: Divine and human. Thus, the Orthodox attract Divine grace upon themselves.

Three fingers are used by all Orthodox people, and the priests, blessing, fold their fingers into a nominative finger composition. For three fingers, the Orthodox must put the thumb, index and middle fingers of the right hand together, and bend the other two fingers to the palm. Thus, the Christian touches the forehead, then the upper abdomen, right shoulder, left shoulder. You need to be baptized only with your right hand in that order.

If a person performs the sign of the cross outside of public worship, then he should at this time say: “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Why is it necessary to be baptized from right to left, that is, to bring the right hand first to the right shoulder and only then to the left? The right shoulder symbolizes the place of the saved, and the left - the place of the perishing. To the right is heaven with saved souls and angels, and to the left is purgatory and hell for sinners and demons. It turns out that when an Orthodox person is baptized, he asks the Lord to rank him among the lot of the saved and save him from the lot of the perishing. Thus, a Christian tries to protect himself by saying prayers, turning to God, entering the temple and leaving it, attending the Divine service.

A true Christian must know how to make the Sign of the Cross correctly: Faithful in Little and Faithful in Much"(Luke 16:10).
The power of the sign of the cross, especially if it comes from the depths of the heart, is unusually great. In the traditions and Lives of the Saints, there are many testimonies of how demonic forces are defeated and various spells are dispelled after a person has signed himself with the sign of the cross. Those who do it carelessly actually help the demons by strengthening their strength with our carelessness.

HOW THE ORTHODOX ARE BAPTIZED. HOW TO DO IT CORRECTLY

To correctly perform the sign of the cross, three fingers (thumb, index and middle) of the right hand should be folded together, and the other two (ring and little fingers) should be pressed to the palm of your hand.
Three folded fingers are a symbol of the One Holy Indivisible Trinity.
And the fingers pressed to the palm symbolize two images of Jesus Christ - as God and as a Man.
The sign of the cross is made in the following order - first the fingers must be placed on the forehead, then on the area of ​​the solar plexus (on the womb), then on the right, and then on the left shoulder. After that, you need to lower your hand and make a waist bow.
With a bow, we symbolize the veneration of the Calvary Cross, just depicted on ourselves. A bow cannot be made before the sign of the cross has been completed.
Sometimes people apply the lower end of the Cross not to the solar plexus, but to the chest. It is not right. In this form, the Cross will turn upside down, i.e. symbol of satanism.
The sign of the cross is a very significant attribute of our faith; it always accompanies the believer.
People are baptized during prayers, when they go to bed, when they wake up, before meals and after meals. The cross sanctifies everything and therefore it always remains the most necessary in the arsenal of a Christian.
It is considered very useful, saying a prayer to the Holy Cross in the evening, also overshadowing yourself, the bed and all four cardinal points with the sign of the cross.
And before leaving the house, say, if not all this prayer, then at least a brief part of it.

How Orthodox Christians are baptized

The first three, folded together, the fingers of the right palm denote the cross of the Lord, namely the Holy Spirit. The other two fingers of the right palm are the two natures of Christ: human and Divine (Christ is the Man-God). If we describe how the Orthodox are baptized in more detail, then it happens like this: we fold the fingers of the right palm: the thumb, index and middle ends to each other, symbolizing a single Two others and the little finger - we press it as tightly as possible to the palm, personifying the descent of the Son of God from heaven to the ground. When we overshadow ourselves with the banner of the cross, we press our folded fingers to four points on our body. To sanctify our mind, we put the cross of the Lord (three fingers) to the forehead, to sanctify the heart and feelings - to the womb, to sanctify the bodily forces - to the right, and then to the left shoulder.

Consider how the Orthodox are baptized not during public worship. In this case, in the process of execution, it is imperative to pronounce the words, while consecrating a certain area of ​​\u200b\u200bour body (as mentioned above): “In the name of the Father (bless the forehead) and the Son (bless the stomach), and the Holy (bless the right shoulder) Spirit ( consecrate the left shoulder). Amen, ”we lower our right hand and bow.

Why do Orthodox Christians baptize from right to left?

The fact is that our right shoulder is a paradise with saved souls, and the left is the place of the perishing, hell and purgatory for demons and sinners. That is, when we are baptized, we ask God for our reckoning with the fate of saved souls, delivering us from the fate of those burning in hell.

Orthodox cross

Jesus Christ was once executed on this main symbol of Christianity. He was crucified to atone for the sins of the world. Church strength and power is concentrated in the Orthodox cross, it is an all-conquering spiritual tool. It is believed that it is the cross that scares away all kinds of evil spirits (for example, vampires), and if it is applied to the unclean, then it, like a brand, will burn through his skin.

People who are far from the church call the Orthodox cross the instrument of execution of Jesus Christ, reproaching Christians for worshiping this instrument. But this is nothing more than philistine talk. Orthodox Christians do not worship the instrument of execution, but the Life-Giving Cross (the symbol of Eternal Life), for Jesus Christ, crucified on it, atoned for our sins with his sufferings.

Immortal life

Jesus is crucified on the cross. We see it. Paradoxically, but in the crucified Christ, Eternal Life is exactly the same. That is why the Orthodox cross is a tree that gives life. It is not for nothing that each of us receives Christ at baptism, wearing it around our neck all our lives.

This is the personification of a weapon of spiritual struggle, a symbol of our salvation and confession. Praying and turning to the Lord, an Orthodox Christian asks God to protect him and his loved ones from illness, from enemies, from unclean people, and so on.

So, in this article, we briefly tried to describe how Orthodox Christians are baptized, and also told you about the Orthodox cross and the Eternal Life that it represents. We hope our article was useful to you.

Which hand is the right one to be baptized and how to be baptized correctly - from left to right or from right to left? How to fold your fingers correctly? Why is it necessary to be baptized and is it necessary to do this before entering the temple?

The essence of the sign of the cross, why is it necessary to be baptized?

In the sign of the cross for a believer, several essences are combined: religious, spiritual-mystical and psychological.

Religious essence consists in the fact that, by making the sign of the cross, a person shows that he is a Christian and lives with Christ; that he is part of the Christian community, appreciates its traditions and cherishes them. That he remembers and keeps in his heart the whole earthly life of Christ - from His first to the last day - and tries to match it to the best of his ability. That honors and tries to live according to the commandments that were given by Christ.

Spiritual and mystical essence lies in the fact that the sign of the cross itself has life-giving power - protecting the one who is baptized and sanctifying him. The cross is a spiritual image that a person puts on himself, “overshadows” himself with it - makes himself similar to Christ in the degree of his faith. Therefore, Christians have a reverent attitude towards the sign of the cross, and they try to be baptized not hastily, “fusily”, but with giving an account.

At the same time, when it is said that the sign of the cross has a certain "mystical" essence, it does not mean that the cross is a "mathematical" formula - such as an Indian mantra, or the rituals of magicians - which begins to "act" from a simple repetition of a set of actions or words. In an inexplicable way for human understanding, the cross sanctifies everyone who is baptized, but at the same time, everyone is “rewarded according to his faith” ...

The sign of the cross is a prayer and the attitude towards it should be appropriate.

Emotional-psychological essence sign of the cross lies in the fact that a believer unconsciously begins to be baptized when he is “used” (at certain moments of the service), or at those moments when he wants to gather himself inwardly (before an important deed, before a secret step), or simply when he experiences psychological fear of something. Or vice versa - we are filled with joy and gratitude to God. Then the hand "begins to be baptized by itself."

With what hand and how correctly should the Orthodox be baptized?

In the Orthodox tradition, you need to be baptized with your right hand - regardless of whether you are right-handed or left-handed.

The order is: forehead - stomach - right - then left shoulder.

You can “shrink” the sign of the cross (not the stomach, but the chest) - for example, in situations where there are non-believers around, you want to cross yourself, but you try to do it “imperceptibly”.

The main thing is not to make the cross "inside oneself" smaller, always remember its greatness, importance and strength.

How to fold your fingers correctly (photo)

The Orthodox tradition says that the fingers should be folded like this: the thumb, middle and index are brought together - this symbolizes the Holy Trinity - and the ring finger and little finger are pressed against the palm.

Is it possible to be baptized in some other way or, for example, with two fingers or from left to right? No - in the Orthodox Church it is customary to be baptized with three fingers from right to left, and you need to do this - without reasoning. Even if we assume that the number of fingers is a convention and an earthly institution (referring to the fact that the Old Believers are still baptized with two, as all Orthodox in Russia once did), the very violation of tradition brings more spiritual harm to a person than good.

A page from the pre-revolutionary book "The Law of God", which tells about how to properly fold your fingers during the sign of the cross, and what it all symbolizes.

Do I need to be baptized before entering the temple or passing through the temple?

When entering the temple, it is customary to be baptized. For a person who is just getting acquainted with religion, this may seem like an artificial rule (like “must”), but over time it becomes natural and even a need to “gather” inwardly, overshadow oneself with Christ’s symbol and power, pay tribute to the temple in which ordinances are performed.

As for the situation when you just see the temple and pass by it, then a person should rely on his feelings and there are no rules. There are people who overshadow themselves with a sign every time they see the domes of the temple. There are those who do not do this, but at the same time in life they will be no less a model of a Christian.

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The sign of the cross has a deep symbolic meaning and is able to work miracles, protecting the believer and attracting the Lord's Grace to him. The sign should be performed with deep and sincere faith in the heart, firmly knowing how to be baptized in Orthodoxy correctly so as not to violate the canons of the church that have developed over many centuries.

History of the Sign of the Cross

At the dawn of Christianity, it was customary to be baptized with the right hand, alternately touching with one finger first to the middle of the forehead, then to the left and right sides of the chest, and finally to the lips. The sign of the cross was made at every Mass, before the reading of Holy Scripture. Subsequently, several interconnected fingers began to be used, and sometimes the entire palm.

With the advent and development of Orthodoxy, the laws that determine how to be baptized also changed. At first it was believed that when laying a cross, one should touch the forehead, left, right shoulder and the navel area with the middle and index fingers, but in 1551 it was decided to move the fourth point to the chest, since it is in this part of the human body that the heart is located.

In the middle of the 17th century, for the first time, they began to use three fingers, crossing each other, which were applied alternately to the forehead, shoulders, and stomach. All those who violated this law and did not want to be baptized properly were considered apostates, and only a few decades later the church allowed believers to be baptized with both two and three fingers.

The canons of the modern church clearly define how to be baptized Orthodox. To do this, use the index, thumb and middle fingers of the right hand folded together, which are touched:

While Orthodox Christians are baptized, the ring finger and little finger of their right hand should be pressed tightly against the palm of their hand. When the sign of the cross is made and the hand is lowered, a low bow follows, accompanied by the word "Amen", and gratitude is raised to the Lord for the blessings sent down. It is impossible to bow during the laying of the cross, because at this time the cross, mentally drawn on the human body, breaks.

It is important to monitor your own posture: a person should stand straight, back straight, shoulders straightened, head held high. Eyes look straight ahead, all movements are performed solemnly, without fussiness and haste.

Orthodox Christians should not only know how to be baptized correctly, but also understand the deep symbolic meaning of this ritual. Three fingers folded into a pinch are the personification of faith in the Holy Trinity, and the remaining fingers pressed to the palm mean the unity of the divine and human nature of Christ. The sign of the cross itself is a symbol of the Cross of the Lord and the participation of the believer in his Resurrection.

How to baptize another person

The sign of the cross has sacred power even when a believer places it on someone else. You need to know how the Orthodox are baptized in this case.

In the families of believers, it is customary that parents bless their child by laying a cross on him, protecting the baby from harm. Not only faith in the Lord is invested in the blessing, but also parental love, so it has great spiritual power. With the correct execution of the ritual:

• The child turns to face the mother or father.
• With the right hand, with three fingers folded together, the believer touches his forehead, then his stomach and shoulders, from right to left.
• When performing the sign, a short prayer is said, then the child bows.

If a believer wants to cross someone with his back to him, the actions are performed in the same order as they would be performed by the person himself.

How to bless food

Before eating, a prayer of thanksgiving must be said and the food standing on the table is consecrated by the imposition of a cross. To avoid mistakes when performing the ritual, you should:

• Put on the table all the dishes that make up the meal.
• Stand facing the icon that is hung near the table and say a prayer.
• Looking straight ahead, cross the table and everything on it with your right hand, directing your fingers alternately to the farthest point of the table, to the nearest, to its left and right sides.

Knowing how to properly be baptized as Orthodox in the church, so as not to make blasphemous mistakes, is necessary for every believer. At the same time, it is important not only to perform the sign correctly, but also to have a good idea of ​​​​when it should be done, and when it is necessary and possible to confine ourselves to a bow:

Anyone who has firmly mastered the rules of conduct in the church, knows what to say at the entrance to the church, when and how to be baptized, when and what prayers to say, at what moments to bow, will never get into an awkward position. New converts entering the church for the first time are advised to move with dignity, without fuss and haste, to observe other parishioners, adopting their behavior and listening to what and how they say.

An attentive person will quickly understand how to be baptized Orthodox in the church because there are strict canons, the violation of which is considered sacrilege, and every believer obeys them. In particular:

It is important to understand the deep meaning of the sign, to realize the importance of this short procedure. It should be done without haste, with faith in the Lord.

It is considered blasphemous to be negligent when laying the cross, haste, doing it with the palm of your hand or without touching the body. It is believed that in this way a person demonstrates a lack of respect for the Holy Trinity, and by his behavior pleases the forces of Evil.

You need to know not only how to be baptized in the church, but also when and how to do it at home. The believer should cross himself daily, openly declaring his faith in the Savior:

It is not necessary to accompany each time the laying of the cross with a long and detailed prayer, it is enough just to thank God. The main thing is to know for sure how Orthodox Christians need to be baptized, and also remember that the words of prayer should come from the heart, and not be a mere convention and tribute to traditions: only then will the life-giving cross gain strength and be able to protect the believer from troubles and misfortunes.